RCA Studio II (I need help)

[fsuinnc]

Recently came into possession of two of these units and some games. I seem to have everything, the special power/switch boxes etc. When I hook them up to the TV and turn them something happens but not what I was expecting. The screen is mostly black but I can see some white spots or squares on the screen. The real problem is that the screen rolls and tumbles so that nothing is recognizable. Anybody familiar with these things at all. My TV is one of the newer types with no real way to fine tune or adjust the v-hold. Is that what I need.

After finding this problem with the first unit I thought maybe it was broken but the second one does the same thing and they came from seperate sources. Any help will be appreciated.

Thanks

[Bryan]

I was looking around for information on the system, and all I found is that you need the special switchboxes, which you have.

 

I did read that the system actually supports color games, but that the console is missing the components to produce it. Odd...

 

-Bry

[Sharky]

Those RCA Studio systems did certainly come in colour. A i once had ownb one myself. (Australian type I guess) I think I recall you could have up to 8 nice colours on doodle, but you always had a blue screen background witch could never be changed.

 

I think as with fsuinnc is asking, I faintly remember having slight problems during christmas day when I first got it.

 

You switch it on and there will be a blank blue screen (In your case Black Screen). (It probably look broken at first glance)

 

You simply just press something like 1-4 on your left built in control pad for a selection of the built in games (Bowling, etc).

 

I must admit, it wasnt a very entertaining system. Bowling was good but too easy, and Doodle was ok if you were bored.

 

Compare that to an Atari 2600. Atari 2600 is a like a dream powerful machine, I was so jealous of the Atari 2600 owners and my RCA Studio II.

 

[Bryan]

According to what I found online about it, the NTSC units were B&W and most of the PAL units were color. Strange...

 

-Bry

[Sharky]

There doesnt seem to be too much information on the RCA Studio on the net.

 

So you've probably read the same articles, I had.

 

I was surprised (after emulating one) I found out those machines came in black&white displays (NSTC) in the first place, also the australian or european version came in a better looking case, much the same. But a black case, also making it look more modern.

 

Also I recently found, the NSTC (B&W) Ones, had 1 or 2 extra rebuilt games in. Or they took a couple or so out the colour RCA Studio or something.

 

I know i recall I had Bowling, and Doodles alright, and maybe Cards(Blackjack?)

But 1 big plus on the colour version, is that you could create beauitful patterns in doodle.

 

Althought I can barey remember RCA Studios (emulating has click back some more memories), I wonder someone from Australia or an European had own one like me around, so I am help get my informatioin confirmed.

 

But seems most ppl or every1 expect me owned the B&W NSTC versions.

[JB]

I was looking some stuff up, and found a little about the Studio 2 relatives at Old-computers.com.

http://www.old-computers.com/magazine/view.asp?r=2&a=5

 

Apparently the european units actually just kludged color into the spec.

The fact that it was never designed to be color is evidenced by the fact that the diffrent european hardware generates diffrent colors.

...

I know there's a Studio 2 somewhere around here. Never had a chance to use it, though.

 

But we still have the instruction manual!

[Sharky]

Thanks JB, this is the one I was talking about more or less.

 

 

 

It was either a Mustang 9016 Telespiel Computer or Sheen 1200 Micro Computer. Definately one of those, but I could hardly called it a "Computer" what they call it.